Friday, November 26, 2010

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers further boosted an already formidable starting rotation on Friday by signing free-agent right-hander Jon Garland to a one-year contract with a vesting option for 2012.

Garland will be guaranteed $5 million for 2011 with an $8 million option in 2012 that becomes guaranteed if he reaches 190 innings in 2011. He has reached that number in all nine seasons since he became a full-time starter.

Garland rejoins the Dodgers after a year in San Diego and essentially becomes the fifth starter after youngsters Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley and the more-seasoned Ted Lilly and Hiroki Kuroda, each of whom re-signed earlier this offseason. [...]

Colletti has rebuilt the rotation before the tumult of the Winter Meetings starts in 10 days and can focus on acquiring a hitter and resolving the uncertainty at catcher. Monasterios can be shifted to the bullpen full-time, while Ely can compete for Jeff Weaver's swingman role.

"We're very pleased to have Jon join this group and give us five very strong starters going into Spring Training," Colletti said in a statement announcing the signing. "We saw what Jon was capable of down the stretch in 2009 and again last year within our division. Year after year, he takes the ball 30-plus times and gives his team a chance to win every time out."

The 31-year-old Garland has gone 131-114 with a 4.32 ERA during his 11-year career. He has averaged more than 32 starts and 200 innings per season in each of his nine full big league campaigns and has been on the disabled list just once in his career.

Not sure if the tryptophan is talking here or not, but even at this cut-rate price, I'm not sure why we haven't addressed the team's gaping holes on offense. In any event, welcome back, Jon.